#2114 · 🐟 fish

Viviparous Blenny

🇳🇱 Puitaal ·Zoarces viviparus

🐟 Fish 📍 in the Netherlands

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Frédéric ANDRE · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © Klaus Kevin Kristensen · CC BY 4.0
3. © Dave Holland · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © Stefan · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. © Rita Jansen · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
6. Schouwen-Duiveland, Pays-Bas:© poulpe-van-palmes · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Schouwen-Duiveland, Nederland:© Glenn Biscop · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. Tholen, Netherlands:© Stefan · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. Grevelingenmeer, South Holland, NL:© daniellegeschiere · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. 3233 Oostvoorne, Nederland:© Dennis Rabeling · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

what is it?

The viviparous eelpout ( Zoarces viviparus ), also known as the, viviparous blenny and European eelpout is an eelpout in the family Zoarcidae. It is notable for giving birth to live larvae (hence the description "mother of eels"). It is a common soup ingredient in Mediterranean countries. The bones are of greenish colour, due to a harmless pigment. Their skin is slimy and the color is variable.

base stats

NL sightings 22iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 307iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 22 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #43 most seen of the fish in NL.
307 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named in 1758 (268 years ago).

fact sheet

English: Viviparous Blenny
Nederlands: Puitaal
scientific name: Zoarces viviparus
class: Actinopterygii
order: Perciformes
family: Zoarcidae
sightings in NL: 22
sightings in Europe: 263
sightings worldwide: 307
GBIF records in NL: 16,097
weight: —
length: —
lifespan: —
named: 1758

Sources: iNaturalist taxon 483237, Wikidata Q27336, GBIF 2381013, Wikipedia (EN), Wikipedia (NL). Intro text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.